nPhase Debuts 'Missing Link' for M2M Development

Often, when companies outside the wireless industry decide they want to use machine-to-machine (M2M) technology, they start from the ground up, developing the software and equipment from scratch every time.

Now, Qualcomm and Verizon Wireless' nPhase joint venture has introduced a new M2M developer program so that companies won't have to reinvent the wheel to create a new M2M device.

"I think it's been a huge issue on both the adopter side as well as the carrier side," says nPhase President Steve Pazol. "It takes people a lot longer to write these applications, get them to testing and out the door. We can shorten the development cycle down to weeks where it would have taken a year."

The nPhase One program is being billed as the "missing link" in the M2M market. It offers manufacturers, application providers and enterprise customers M2M software development kits, testing, training, implementation support and a developer website with online support and community forum. The joint venture is also working with CalAmp integrate sensor management technology in its broadband router products, including a plug and play RS-232 serial MODBUS interface.

The program currently supports devices running on AT&T, Verizon and Vodafone. Pazol says nPhase plans to expand the program's supported carriers in the future. Pazol says applications written through the nPhase One program will be "well-behaved" - designed to use network resources as efficiently as possible.